On this special episode recorded live during Penn Nursing Alumni Weekend, you’ll hear from Dean Antonia Villarruel and Director of Alumni Relations Maddie Nicol as they share exciting updates about the School’s upcoming 75th anniversary as a standalone school and plans for next year’s 140th anniversary of nursing at Penn. You’ll also meet passionate alumni, including Dr. Nancy Tkacs (NU’75), who reflects on five decades of Penn Nursing excellence and her legacy as a beloved educator. Current students and staff highlight student engagement, community initiatives like Nurses for the Vote, and the growing influence of civic health advocacy. From cherished clinical memories to future-facing efforts in design, democracy, and innovation, this episode captures the heart of the Penn Nursing community—past, present, and future.

Timestamps:

00:00-01:05: Maddie Nicol and Dean Villarruel

01:05-03:13: Nancy Tkacs

03:13-05:04: Vicky Vo

05:04-09:28: Sydney Edelson

09:28- close: Susan Dickey

Today on Amplify Nursing, we talk with Dr. J. Margo Brooks Carthon, Professor of Nursing, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Dr. Brooks Carthon is the new Director of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing. With a longstanding commitment to health equity and a research background rooted in historical methods, Dr. Brooks Carthon brings bold, innovative vision to the Center. 

In this episode she talks with us about the importance of history in shaping contemporary health policy and practice, advocating for its integration into nursing education and innovation. Her goals include expanding digital access to the Center’s archives, amplifying underrepresented voices in nursing history, and positioning the Bates Center as a collaborative hub for both historical scholarship and forward-looking transformation in health care. 

Under her leadership, the Bates Center aims to not only preserve the past but actively shape the future of nursing and population health through research, education, and policy. 

Today on Amplify Nursing, we talk with Dr. Danielle McCamey, an acute care nurse practitioner, Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and the visionary founder of DNPs of Color. Danielle shares the deeply personal journey that led her to nursing—sparked by watching her mother, a home health nurse, care for patients with compassion and dedication. 

Through DNPs of Color, Danielle has built a powerful, supportive network for nurses of color pursuing doctoral degrees, providing mentorship, resources, and community. She also shares exciting details about her latest initiative, the Nurses Shift Change Movement, and the upcoming Report for Duty Rally on May 24th—a nationwide effort to mobilize nurses around social justice, ethics, and equitable healthcare access. Tune in to hear how she’s driving change, lifting others, and leading with purpose. 

Today on Amplify Nursing we talk with Dr. Brooke Goodspeed, Founder and Executive Director of GETincluded & Research Scientist at Jefferson Health.  

In this episode Brooke shares how after her son’s down syndrome and autism diagnosis, she saw critical gaps in support and resources for families navigating disabilities. After pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, she co-founded GETincluded, a nonprofit promoting inclusion and employment for people with developmental disabilities. 

Her initiative, Get Café in Narberth, PA, is more than a coffee shop, it’s a community space employing people with disabilities. Brooke shares how she’s turning research into real-world change and why nurses are key to a more equitable future. 

Today on Amplify Nursing we talk with Oronde McClain, a Stoneleigh Fellow & Director of Survivor Connection at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. In this episode Oronde shares his journey as a gun violence survivor and his advocacy work. He created Survivor Connection; a program that helps journalists access firsthand survivor perspectives while educating survivors on media literacy. His work aims to bridge the gap between media and affected communities, ensuring accurate and empathetic reporting. McClain hopes to expand this model to other cities to improve gun violence reporting and support survivors in sharing their stories. 

Today on Amplify Nursing we talk with Dr. Cat Russell, a U.S. Army veteran, nurse and current postdoctoral fellow with the National Clinician Scholars Program at the University of Pennsylvania researching perinatal and reproductive health and health care access for U.S. active-duty servicewomen and veterans.  

In this episode we discuss Cat’s journey from serving in the Army, working in a fast paced emergency department, to then researching gaps in reproductive healthcare for servicewomen. With Dr. Holly Harner, Cat is developing a secure & anonymous online resource to educate servicewomen on reproductive health resources. Their project, Camo Care, supported by Penn Nursing’s Innovation Accelerator, is set to launch soon. They aim to navigate evolving policies and ensure military women have the knowledge and access they need. 

Today on Amplify Nursing we talk with Andrea Jaramillo, a Hospice Nurse, urban farmer and certified forest therapy guide who founded Forest Nurse. Forest Nurse aims to connect nature with humans by offering guided, intentional and beautifully crafted forest therapy sessions in a reciprocal and relational manner. 

Forest therapy is an immersive nature experience that guides you on a gentle journey to reawaken your senses and connection with nature and self. 

 In this episode we discuss the physical and mental benefits of being in nature, the importance of connecting with and protecting our natural lands, and the seasonal changes that occur in nature which mirror the natural transitions of life. 

Today on Amplify Nursing we speak with Dr. Tracey Vogel. Dr. Vogel is an obstetric anesthesiologist based in Western Pennsylvania. Her interest in birth trauma and training as a sexual assault counselor led her to her current position as Director of Allegheny Health Network's (AHN) Perinatal Trauma-informed Care Clinic - one of the first in the nation. This unique service offers comprehensive trauma-informed care for all birthing persons with histories of previous trauma including shared-decision making in birth planning, multidisciplinary collaboration and communication, while also building patient trust, and advocating for optimal outcomes for mothers and babies.

Today we discuss the importance of utilizing trauma-informed care in practice.

On this episode of the Amplify Nursing podcast, we come to you live from the 2024 Summer Innovation Institute. We talk with our Nursing Innovation Fellowship program fellows about the importance of nurse-led innovation, the resources needed to support nurses in innovation, and why investing in fellowships for senior nurse leaders is critical.

The Nurse Innovation Fellowship program is supported by Johnson & Johnson and powered by Penn Nursing and the Wharton School.

Today, on Amplify Nursing, we kick off season 9 in conversation with Dr. Sharon Pearce. Sharon is a practicing CRNA, former president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, and current co-chair of the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement.

In this episode, we talk about the genesis of nursing care in hospitals, current payment models, and the importance of having a seat at the table.